Offsetting mechanism



Aug. 7, 1945. A. B. CADMANr I OFFSETTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed may 5, 1943 Aug. 7, 1945. A. B. CADMAN OFFSETTING MECHANISM Filed May-3, 1943 2 SheefS-Sheet 2 4each other.

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEi'cE zo claims".

This invention relates to mechanism of a type popularly known as joggling dies.' These mechanisms are employed for forming offsets in bars, particularly bars having cross-'sections known as structural shapes such as angle bars or similar bars presenting anges disposed at an angle to These flanges are usually at right angles, and probably the commonest shape employed is known as angleiron although this mechanism forming the subjec of this invention, is particularly intended for use in offsetting bars of Duralumin or similar material used in constructing aircraft.

Heretofore joggling dies, or offsetting dies, have been constructed forI offsetting angle bars, but it has been the common practice to provide dies to fit the particular size of angle bar being offset, for

example, 11/2 x 11/2, 2 x 2, etc.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a joggling die or mechanism which has features of construction enabling it to operate upon angle bars of different dimensions within limits. l l

In offsetting angle bars, it is the usual practice to offset the material of the bar in a' plane extending at right angles to the nanges; in this way the material in one of the flanges is offset out of its normal plane, while theother flange is not offset as to its plane, but merely as to its position in its plane. In performing this operation it is necessary to clamp this flange just -referred to, that is to say, the material of which is displaced in its own plane; and one of the objects of this invention is to provide a-die-assembly which will operate to clamp both of the flanges' by pressing against their flat sidefaces, and in addition to this to provide means for clamping against the edge of the flange that is oifsetonly inl its own plane; and in accomplishing this, also to provide a construction for the jaws that will enable this tc be accomplished for different sizes, in the same dies. v

Another object of the invention isrto provide a construction for the cooperating jaws of the dies, that will insure that in offsetting the bar, the flanges4 will be maintained at right angles to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple mechanism for performing the functions described above, constructed so as to enable the length of the offset to be readily adjusted, and also to provide improved means for imparting the offsetting force to the mechanism to effectY the laterai displacement from the plane of one of the flanges to produce the offset.

A further object of the invention is toconstruct the mechanism so that it can be used toproduce '.right-hand or left-hand offsets; in other words, to provide a construction which will enable the bar to be run into the mechanism either from the right side, or from the left side, as may be desired.

. Further objects of the invention win appealhereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts 'and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all 'of which contribute to produce an eilicient oifsetting mechanism.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following speciilcation, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. partial vertical section and partial elevation, certain parts broken away illustrating mechanism embodying this invention, and.illus trating one of the sets,` or die-assemblies in its open position and with an angle VAbar lying in position ready to be clamped. In this view the section of course is taken in a plane at'vl right angles to the length ofthe bar.

l Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken about on the line 2,-2 lof Fig. l, further illustrating details oi' the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the complete machine as viewed from the left side of Fig. l. 'I'his view is upon a reduced scale.

Fig. 4 is a more orjle'ss diagrammatic view illustrating an offset bar in position in the machine, and'with the parts in the position which they assume in order to produce the offset illustrated.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are vertical sections taken through a die assemblyl which is characteristic of before the cooperating jaw is held againfst descent.

Fig. 'l shows the final stage of the operation in which movement of one of the jaws occurs, which enables the jaws to clamp the bottom edge of the vertical flange. This is one of the features of the machine which adapts it for clamping angle bars of different dimensions.

Before proceeding to a, detailed description of the invention, it` should be stated that inthe present specification and drawings, I have disclosed a construction in which I employ two assemblies or sets of jaws for grasping or clamping the bar on opposite sides of the point at which the offset is to be made. Of course this could linvolve a duplication of two mechanisms, but in some situations may be unnecessary because a different type of clamping means could be employed in connection with the relatively fixed clamp that would hold the bar when the other clamp or assembly moves relatively to the iixed jaw to elect the offset.

Referring more particularly to the parts and especially to Figs. 1 and 2, I represents the frame of the mechanism in which I mount two die assemblies 2 and 3 (see Fig. 2) located on opposite sides of the plane or vertical line 4 at which the oifset is formed.

As these assemblies are duplicates of each other, I shall now describe one of them. Each assembly includes a base member 5 which is preferably guided for vertical movement between the ends or end plates 6 of the frame, and this .guiding means may include two guide pins 1 that are guided in slots 8 -(see Fig. 3) in the end members 8 of the frame. These bases 5 are capable of being depressed when the offset is being formed, and if, for example, the assembly 3 were being depressed to effect the offset, then the assembly 2' would be maintained in a fixed position. In order to enable the amount of relative movement of one of these assemblies to the other to be regulated, the base 5 is preferably supported on an adjustable support. In the present instance, this consists of two sets ofvwedges or tapered keys 9 and I0, that is to say, these wedges are disposed in pairs, pair 9, 9 being attached to an end plate I2 on one side of the machine, and the pair I0, I0 being attached to a similar end plate or header II on the other side of the machine.

' These end putes are attached to these-headers by suitable fastening means such as bolts I3. The header plates Il and I2 are threaded onto an adjusting bolt I4 that extends from one `side of The plate II at one the machine to the other. sidelis threaded to the adjusting bolt with left'-l hand threads as indicated, while the header or end plate I2 at the other side, is threaded onto other words, these threads are of opposite character so that when the wedges on one side are ad- .the bolt by means of right-hand threads. ,In

justed outwardly, the'wedges on the other side .will also be adjusted outwardly. Theupper edges I5 of these. wedges are the inclined edges, while.

5 is of course formed with inclined faces I 6a that the pins 1. l

'Ihe upper side of each base 5 operates as a seatlfor a pair of jaws I8 and I9 that oppose each other for clamping the vertical flange 20 .of the anglebar (see Fig. 1), and these jaws are guidedI on their seat on the base in such a way that when the horizontal flange 2I of the angle bar is clamped against the upper face of the first jaw I 8 of the pair, itwill be guided down on its seat so as to approach the second jaw I9, and this movement effects the clamping of the ange 20. While this clamping could be effected against the vertical face of the jaw I9, in the present instance I prefer to clamp this vertical flange 20 against a vertical tongue 22 extending. down at the adjacent face of the second jaw I9 when the clamping movement occurs.

In order to enable the adjacent face of the jaw I8 to accommodate bulb angle shapes, its clamping face 23 is preferably relieved, or formed with a recess 24 on its face to provide clearance for the "ball or bulb 25 of theangle bar. In order to support the jaws I8 and I9, and provide for guiding them on the base, k I prefer to provide each of these jaws with an inclined bottom face, and form the base with an inclined seat face such as the seat faces 26 and 21 on which these jaws rest. The jaw I3 is preferably normally pulled up against a stop 28 (see Figs. 5, 6 and '1) by meansv of two coil springs 29 that are at- 'tached to this jaw I8 at two or more points (see Fig. l). The jaw I9 in its normal position of rest, lies at the bottom of the V notch which is formed by the two inclined faces 26 and 21 that preferably form a dihedral angle of 90 with each other. These faces are polished faces, so that the jaws I8 and I9 can slide readily up or down along them. In Fig. l the jaw I9 is shown in its position of rest, at which time it is stopped at the vertex of the angle between the faces 26 and 21. The jaw 22 is preferably mounted for adjustment on a heavy plate or carriage 30, in a direction extending longitudinally with the angle bar. This adjustment, however, will be described more fully hereinafter. At the present time, it should be stated .that this carriage 30 which is virtually a rigid part of the third jaw 3I of the assembly, is guided to move vertically onthe jaw I9, for which purpose I employ two guide pins 32 that move up and down in guide bores 32a in this jaw; a coil spring 33 being provided for normally holding the jaw 3| in its elevated position.

The jaw I9 is formed at its lower end with a forwardly projecting toe 34 in which a clearance slot 35 is formed to take the lower end of the tongue 22 in the fully closed position of the jaws suitable means may be applied for applying the pressure to the depressible die assembly. In the present instance, this may be accomplished by der, and thisailunger is attached by a flexible" vjointincluding a pin39 to a head or plate 40.

means of a huid-operated cylinder 31. (see Fig. l)

provided with'a plunger or piston rod 38 that extends down below the lower end of the cylin- This plate does not exert pressure directly upon Vthe'die assembly that is to be depressed upon the offset. In order to adapt this part of the mechanism for exerting pressure when different lengths of oil'sets are to be formed, 4I prefer to provide a presser plate 4| upon which the head 40 exerts its pressure, and'this plate 4I cooperates with the bearer frame 42, said bearer frame be'- ing controlled at will by hand, and consisting of asubstantially square onrectangular framecarrying two bolsters or rollers 43 and 44. These bolsters are preferably in the form of rollers that can roll. upon the upper faces of the third jaws 3| of the assemblies, and in order to enable the position of these bearers or bolsters to be regulated, I prefer to provide the under side of the presser plate or bearer plate 4| with a plurality of sets of sockets 45. These sockets are disposed in pairs, the distance between each pair being the distance between the holsters 43 and 44. As illustrated in Fig. `2, the bearer frame is located so that the roller 44 is in a socket 45 disposed toward the extreme right of the presser plate 4|. When the plunger 38 moves downwardly, the bolster 43 operates `as a fulcrum about which the presser plate 4I rocks, and as this occurs, of course the bolster or roller 44 rolls slightly on the upper face of the carriage 30 that carries the third jaw 3| of the assembly, that is to be forced down. This jaw descends as far as will be permitted by the wedges 9, 9 or I0, |0, beneath the base B on which its die assembly is seated.

Thethird jaw 3| is adjustable away from the medial plane or line 4 to determine the length of the offset, that is to say, the dimension of the offset measure-d longitudinally with the angle bar. In order to enable this to be accomplished, each jaw 3| is constructed as a sliding block having two dovetail key-way connections 46 and 41 including slots that are cut down into the upper face of the jaw 3|, said slots being of greatest width at the bottom; and the under face vof the carriage 30 is correspondingly formed with dovetail ribs vor keys that support and guide the jaws 3| when they are adjusted along these key-ways. This adjustment may be effected in any desired manner, butin the present instance I employ an adjusting screw 41a (see Fig. 4) rotatably mounted in a block 48 that is supported on the under side 4of the carriage 30 by countersunk screws 49 (see Fig. 2) that pass down through the carriage 30 from above. The lower ends of these screws are threaded into the block 48. The adjusting screw is swiveled in this block with a collar 5|) on each side, seating against the face of the block so as to hold the adjusting screw against longitudinal movement. Hence when the adjusting screw is rotated by means of its knurled head 5l, its threaded .end will cause the jaw 3| to'move to or fro along its path. The manner in which the pusher plate 40 adapts itself to the position of the presser plate 4|, is indicated in Fig. 4.

The presser plate 4| is guided in a substantially vertical direction on the end frames 6, and in order to accomplish this I prefer to provide the sides of this plate with slightly depressed side pins 52 having enlarged necks 53 that are guided to move up and down in slots 54 formed in the side frame 6, and the ends of these pins 52 are resiliently pulled upwardly by coil springs 55 that are hooked to the same, the upper ends of these springs being supported on anchor pins 56 that project out from the side frames 6 at an elevated point.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and '7, it should be explained that in order to prevent any possibility of the vertical flange of the angle bar tending to buckle when its lower edge is clamped against the shoulder 51, I form this shoulder so that it is inclined from a horizontal line, being inclined downwardly to-ward its inner side and toward the socket into which the tongue 22 of the third jaw 3| descends. This is important: and by inclining this face, when the lower edge of this flange comes on this face, due to the inclination of the face the, pressure of the face normal to its own plane, will hold the face of the vertical flange tightly up against the adjacent face of the tongue .22. The mode of operation of the assemblies 2 and 3 is clearly illustrated in these Figs. 5, 6 and 1. Fig. 6 illustrates the relation of the jaws when the angle bar is partially clamped up, that is to say, its horizontal flange is clamped against the upper face of the jaw I8. From this position for the jaw I8, as the downward pressure is continued as illustrated by the arrow, the jaw I8 will commence to slide down on the inclined face 26, and this sliding movement will shift the angle bar laterally over against the side of the tongue 22 and bring the lower edge of the vertical iiange into line with the inclined shoulder 51. As the descent continues, the lower edge of the vertical iiange will strike this shoulder 51, and as this clamping movement takes place an upward movement of the jaw I9 will take place on the inclined face 21. The amount of this movement will depend upon the width of this vertical flange; the narrower; the flange, the further up the incline 21 the jaw I9 will move. This organization and arrangement of these jaws enables angle bars with vertical flanges of different depths, to be clamped up rigidly in the same set of jaws, within limits, of course. However, in practice it will be found that one set or assembly of jaws will accommodate angle bars through a considerable range of size.

The adjacent ends of the jaws I8 and 3| are formed with lbeveled faces Illal and 3|a, (see Fig. 2). Each bevel is at an angle of approximately 18 to the horizontal. This is about the proper angle for an offset whose length is about three times the amount of offset.

The mode of operation of the complete mechanism will now be brieiiy summarized:

When the mechanism is at rest, the springs hold the presser plate 4| in an elevated position above the jaws that constitute the two assemblies 2 and 3, and of course the springs 33 maintain the third jaws 3| of each assembly in an elevated position, depending upon the length of the springs 33. The angle bar that is to be offset is then placed in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. One or both of the adjusting screws 41 are then adjusted by means of their knurled heads 5|, to move the third jaws 3l apart at :heir adjacent edges to correspond with the .ength of offset that is required to make.

The bearer frame 42 is then slid into place with the holsters 43 disposed in a selected pair of the notches or recesses 45 on the under side of the presser plate 4|. This position of the bearer frame will depend upon which one of the jaw assemblies is to be depressed in offsetting the angle bar. For example, referring to Fig. 4, if the right-hand clamp assembly is to be depressed, then the wedges 9, 9 and l0, lll located under the base member 5, may be adjusted outwardly by means of their adjusting screws so a's to permit their corresponding base member 5 to descend sufficiently to produce the desired odset.

In connection with the offsetting movement of the mechanism, it should be understood that there is no connection whatever between the upper face of the third jaw of each assembly and the pressure exerting means above these jaws. The only contact is through the rollers or bolsters 43 and 44. Of course, by referring to Fig. l, it`

will `be evident that as the presser plate 4|' descends, after the jaws have assumed the relation shown in Fig. 6, there will be a lateral shifting of the entire assembly excepting of course, the

base member 5 when the lower edge of the vertical flange has been clamped against the inclined face 51. This lateral shifting occurs as the jaw I9 climbs up on its inclined guide face 21. Of course, as this jaw I9 climbs up and shifts laterally, it takes with it the third -jaw of the assembly combination which is guided by the guide pin 32 on the jaw I9.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In mechanism for offsetting a bar having an angular cross-section, the combination of a die assembly having a plurality of jaws for clamping the flanges of the bar, a second die assembly including a plurality of jaws for clamping flanges of the bar, said assemblies being disposed alongside of each other so as to clamp adjacent portions of the bar, means for adjusting the distance between a pair of said jaws, means for supporting at least one of said assemblies so that the same can be moved relatively to the other assembly to .offset the bar, means acting upon each of said die assemblies to cause them to clamp the bar securely on each side of the location of the offset, said means operating thereafter to force one of said assemblies out of line with the other assembly to make the offset while the bar is clamped by the assemblies, and stop means for limiting the depth of the offsetting movement.

2. offsetting mechanism according to claim 1, capable of offsetting anged bars having great range in the width of their flanges, in which each of said jaw assemblies includes a pair of lower jaws located at about the same level but disposed apart when the jaws are at rest to form a gap to receive the vertical flange of the bar with the horizontal flange of the bar resting upon the upper face of one of said lower jaws; each assembly also including an upper jaw for clamping the horizontal flange, means for moving the said third jaw relatively to the pair of jaws to clamp the horizontal flange, and means for guiding the jaw that supports the horizontal flange so that under the action of the clamping force of the third jaw it shifts laterally against the other lower jaw to clamp the vertical flange against the same.

3. Offsetting mechanism according to claim 1, capable of offsetting flanged bars having great range in the width of their flanges, in which each of said jaw assemblies includes a pair of lower jaws located at about the same level but disposed apart when the jaws are at rest to form a gap to receive the vertical flange of the bar with the horizontal flange of the bar resting upon the upper face of one of said lower jaws; each assembly also including an upper jaw for clamping the horizontal flange against the jaw on which it rests, means for moving the said third jaw relatively to the pair of jaws to clamp the horizontal flange, edge-engaging means rigid and integral with the third jaw for engaging the edge of the vertical flange; and means for guiding the jaw that supports the horizontal flange so that under the action of the clamping force of the third jaw it moves downwardly and then laterally toward the other jaw of said pair of jaws, said guiding means including means for guiding the said other jaw of the pair upwardly and laterally to bring said edge engaging means into engagement with the edge of the vertical flange before the offsetting movement of the jaw assemblies occurs.

4. In mechanism for offsetting a bar having flanges and an angular cross-section, the combination of relatively Xed clamping means for clamping the bar before the offsetting movement occurs, a die-assembly including a plurality of jaws located adjacent to the relatively xed clamping means, for clamping the flanges of the bar, means for adjusting a jaw of said assembly so that the same is capable of movement toward or away from the said relatively xed clamping means and longitudinally of the bar, said assembly including a pair of opposed jaws and a third jaw cooperating together to clamp both the flanges of the bar before the offsetting of the material of the bar occurs, means for normally holding the third jaw yieldingly in its position of rest and for guiding the same on one of the jaws of said pair, and means for exerting pressure on said third jawto move the same toward its clamping position.

5. In mechanism for offsetting a bar having an angular cross-section, the combination of a frame, a pressure head guided in said frame with means for advancing the same, to clamp the bar, relatively xed means having jaws for clamping the anges of the bar, a die-assembly located adjacent said last-named means, including a pair of opposed dies for clamping one flange of the bar, and a third jaw cooperating with one of said pair of jaws for clamping the other flange, guiding means cooperating with the pair of jaws to permit relative lateral movement of the jaws of said pair with respect to each other to effect the clamping of the flange that is disposed between the said pair of jaws; and means for guiding said third jaw on one of said pair of jaws as the third jaw moves toward its clamping position.

6. In mechanism for offsetting a bar having an angular cross-section, the combination of a frame, a die-assembly including jaws operating to clamp the bar rigidly that is to be offset before it is offset, a second die-assembly adjacent the rst die-assembly, including jaws operating to clamp the bar rigidly before the bar is offset, means for adjusting the distance between jaws of said assemblies in a direction extending longitudinally of the bar, means for mounting at least one of said assemblies so that it can be guided in said frame and moved relatively to the other assembly to offset the bar, a presser plate adjacent said assemblies, and capable of pressing either of said assemblies, and means associated with the presser plate for exerting pressure through it to the relatively movable assembly to effect the olfsetting of the bar, the means associated with the presser plate including a bearer frame with bearer members located between the presser plate and the assemblies, said presser plate having means cooperating with the bearer members to determine the position of the bearers and the point at which pressure can be exerted through them by the presser plate.

'7, In mechanism for offsetting a bar having an angular cross-section, the combination of a frame, a die-assembly including jaws for clamping the bar that is to be offset, a second die-assembly adjacent the rst die-assembly, including jaws for clamping the bar to be offset, means for adjusting the distance between jaws of said assemblies in a direction extending longitudinally of the bar, means for guiding said assemblies in said frame. means associated with the frame and assemblies for holding one of said assemblies relatively Xed, and for permitting a limited relative movement of the other assembly to oifset the bar, a presserplate adjacent said assemblies and extending across the location of the offset between the assemblies, means fo'r forcing the presser-plate toward thejaws, and a bearer-frame having substantially parallel transverse bolsters, one of which rides on one of said assemblies, and the other of which rides on the other assembly, said presser-plate having means cooperating with said holsters to enable the same to be set in different positions to determine the point at which pressure is imparted from the presser-plate to the assemblies.

8. In a die-assembly for offsetting a bar having flanges disposed at an angle to each other, the combination of a plurality of dies for clamping the bar, including a pair of opposed dies for clamping one of the flanges, said pair of dies including a lirst die and a second die; and a third die movable toward the first die, means for forcing the third die toward the pair of dies to clamp the other flange of the bar against one of the pair of dies, means for guiding the rst die after the third die has clamped its corresponding flange of the bar, to move toward the second die, said second die having a clamping face for engaging the edge of the flange it is to clamp; and means for guiding the second die to enable it to move laterally in an inclined path so that its said clamping face Iwill clamp against the said edge.

9. A die-assembly as defined in claim l8, in which the base is formed with a socket in which the said pair of dies are seated, said socket having an inclined face corresponding to each die of the pair, said inclined faces forming a dihedral angle and said three dies cooperating so that in the clamping movement one of said flanges is clamped between the third die and one of said pair of dies, and that die then moves down its correspending inclined seat face to clamp the other flange in the dies.

10. A die-assembly constructed as defined in claim 8 in which the said face on the second die that engages the edge of the ange, is inclined downwardly toward the second die.

11. In an offsetting mechanism for offsetting a flanged bar, the combination of means for clamping the flange of the bar that is to Ibe offset out of its own plane in the offsetting operation, an assembly of oisetting jaws disposed alongside of said clamping means, said jaw assembly including a pair of opposed jaws with inclined bottom faces, the inclined bottom face of one of said jaws extending transversely to the inclined bottom face of the other jaw, a base for supporting the said pair of jaws presenting two inclined seat faces on which the inclined faces of said jaws rest, said pair of jaws including a first jaw, and an opposed second jaw, means for normally holding said rst jaw in a relatively elevated position on its inclined seat face so as to maintain a gap between it and the second jaw to receive the vertical flange of the bar, with the horizontal flange of the bar resting on the upper face of the said first jaw; a third jaw lmounted above said pair of jaws for movement toward and away from the same, means for forcing the third jaw toward the pair of jaws to clamp the horizontal flange against the first jaw and operating to force'the rst jaw down to its inclined supporting seat face, thereby causing the same to shift laterally toward the second jawand cause the second jaw to move upwardly face and also to clamp the vertical flange ofthe bar between thesame and the third jaw; means for guiding the third jaw on said second jaw when the third jaw is moved downwardly to clamp the horizontal flange; and means for mounting the base to enable the same to move downwardly with the jaw assembly, to offset the bar.

12. Oisetting mechanism according to claim 11, in which the third jaw is formed with a downwardly extending tongue against which the vertical ange of the bar may seat when the first jaw moves laterally toward the second jaw.

13. Offsetting mechanism according to claim 11, in which resilient means is provided between the third jaw and the second jaw for yieldingly pressing the second jaw downwardly.

14. Oisetting mechanism according to claim 11, including a carriage for supporting the third jaw and through which the downward pressure is exerted on the third jaw to close the jaws and form the offset; and means for supporting and adjusting the third jaw on said carriage in a direction extending longitudinally with the bar to control the length of the material of the bar between its offset portions.

15. offsetting mechanism according to claim 11, in which the third jaw is formed with a downwardly extending tongue against which the vertical flange 0f the bar may seat when the first jaw moves laterally toward the second jaw; said second jaw having a clearance slot for said tongue.

16. Offsetting mechanism according to claim 11, in which resilient means is employed for normally holding said base in a relativelx7 elevated position and adjustable wedges are provided under the base for limiting the distance to which the base can be depressed by the force that moves the said assembly downward to produce the offset in the bar.

17. An offsetting mechanism for bars of angular cross-section, comprising: a pair of similar die assemblies arranged side-by-side along a bar having, in cross-section, angularly related legs, each die assembly including jaws adapted to engage and grip rigidly both legs of said bar thereby to restrain the gripped portions of said bar against distortion; means for adjusting the distance between jaws of said die assemblies along the length of said bar; guide means for permitting relative bodily movement of said die assemblies in parallel planes traversing the longitudinal axis of said bar to .effect an offset in said bar within the length of said bar between said jaws of said die assemblies; a presser plate common to said die assemblies; and a selector means interposed between said presser plate and said die assemblies to determine the relative direction of movement of said die assemblies thereby to select the direction of the offset in said bar.

18. A die structure for gripping and holding intact .the legs of angle bars, comprising: a base structure having a V-channel therein; a rst and a second die element slidable toward each other down the sides of said V-channel, said rst die element adapted to support an angle bar by one leg with the other leg depending between said die elements; a third die element including a plate coacting with said rst die element and a tongue adapted to enter between said first and second die elements alongside the depending leg of said bar; and a presser head operating through said third die element and in conjunction with said V-channel to move all three of said die elements into gripping engagement with said angle bar.

19. A die structure for gripping and holding intact the legs of angle bars, comprising: a. base structure having a V-channel therein; a first and a second die element slidable obliquely to and from each other along the slopes of saidV V- channel, the first die element adapted to support an angle bar by one leg with the other leg depending between said die elements, said second die element having a tongue positioned for engagement with the extremity of the depending leg of said angle bar; a third die element above the first and second die elements including a portion adapted to coact with said first die element to clamp the leg supported Athereon and a tongue adapted to overhang the depending leg of said bar; and means for actuating said die elements to grip said bar.

20. A construction as set forth in claim 19 wherein the tongue of said third die element interlocks with the tongue of the second die element to hold said second die element in contact 10 with the first die element.

ADDI B. CADMAN. 

